Bill Belichick explains process leading Josh McDaniels to spurn Colts

Entering Super Bowl LII, the Indianapolis Colts thought they had their new head coach in Josh McDaniels. That is until the New England Patriots offensive coordinator spurned the team, leaving them — and the newly hired assistants — without a head coach.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick explained in detail at the NFL owners meeting the process that wound up resulting in McDaniels bailing on the Colts and returning to the runners-up in the Super Bowl.

Belichick explained that it wasn’t until after the Super Bowl, a full week since it was reported that the Colts intend to hire McDaniels, that they had a lengthy discussion about their future.

“Once that game ended, I think that really gave Josh and I a chance to sit down and talk more directly about the situation, as opposed to, ‘We really want to talk about the game and what we need to do to try to compete in that game.’ That’s basically what happened,” Belichick said Sunday, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Before the game, I’d say we had minimal discussions. I’d say we had much deeper and longer and more in-depth and more constructive discussions immediately after the game.”

The Colts had a deal in place to hire McDaniels but they weren’t allowed to officially make the hire until after the Super Bowl.

General manager Chris Ballard felt comfortable with the situation enough to announce the team had agreed to terms with McDaniels to be the head coach, only for the latter to call and back out of the job.

“We got back from Minnesota, I had an opportunity to talk to Josh, and we were able to work some things out. I’m thrilled he’s still with us and is going to continue in his role,” Belichick said. “I’m very glad, based on the meeting we had — there were a number of things that happened — that we were able to work that out and keep him with us.”

While the NFL would never call it the “McDaniels rule,” his situation is likely the headliner as to why might be looking to change the rules a bit to allow coaches to accept new jobs during the playoffs, even if their teams are playing.

The Colts wound up hiring Frank Reich, a move many have believed to be a better move.

Regardless, there is more information now as to why McDaniels wound up spurning the Colts, a decision that likely won’t be forgotten in the league for a long time.